Leeds United’s best finish in the Championship came to nothing in the end as they got knocked out by Derby County in the playoff semi-finals. However, the last season should be seen as a success, and the club should use it as a stepping stone to improve on the things which went wrong in the 2018-19 campaign.
One area where the Whites need to improve is squad depth. The club had to use players out of their natural positions to fill in various roles, and that cannot go on if the club wants to succeed at this level. Kalvin Phillips and Luke Ayling on occasions had to play as a central defender last season when the likes of Liam Cooper, Pontus Jansson and Gaetano Berardi missed out. Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan believes (Leeds Live) that the Whites should go after recently released Aston Villa defender Tommy Elphick.
Elphick made 32 appearances for the Villans, but he was sidelined in the second half of the season after Dean Smith signed Tyrone Mings from Bournemouth on loan. Nevertheless, Whelan believes that Elphick will be a good signing for the Whites.
Does Leeds United need a defender?
Interestingly, United were linked with the centre back in 2017 as well. He is obviously not as good as he was two years back, but he certainly makes a case for himself in this Leeds United side which lacks depth.
However, Bielsa has often shown that he would only make signings if the player coming in is better than what he already has at the club. We don’t see Elphick as an upgrade over the likes of Liam Cooper or Pontus Jansson, the two main centre-halves.
Gaetano Berardi is being linked with a move away from the club so the Whites might have to sign someone as his replacement if he goes on to leave the club. Bielsa also gave someone like Aapo Halme opportunities in the first team last season, and the young Finnish defender did a decent job at the back.
Should the Whites sign him?
We think that on a free transfer, the 31-year-old would be a decent signing for the club as a squad player. The Whites also had problems in defending set pieces and Elphick is known to be good in the air. Maybe he can be used in the latter part of the games to see out a lead. However, knowing Bielsa, he might not go in for him if he doesn’t feel that Elphick is an upgrade over the current options.
